23
votes
As a Hindu, can I feed other people beef?
Manu Smriti 5.51. He who permits (the slaughter of an animal), he who
cuts it up, he who kills it, he who buys or sells (meat), he who cooks
it, he who serves it up, and he who eats it, (must all be ...
- 109k
19
votes
Are these verses from Garuda Purana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad asking men to beat women? If not, how should they be interpreted?
Garuda purana 1.109.31 is a verse taken From manu smriti, also it's taken without its context
Manu says this
8.299. A wife, a son, a slave, a pupil, and a (younger) brother of the full blood, who ...
- 2,609
18
votes
Why did Sri Rama banish Lady Sita when he was a witness of her fire-test himself?
UTTARA KANDA is a PRAKSHIPTA - an insertion made at a later date. As the episode of banishment of Sita finds place in this Kanda, it has to be rejected.
In view of the following contradictions in the ...
17
votes
Accepted
Why did god create us even though he knew that we will partake in adharma?
Let's see this the way Tantra talks about it. Shiva Sutras, Introduction part, Page xix,
The God is nothing but Ultimate Reality, also termed as chit or Parasamvit. It is non-relational consciousness....
- 6,920
16
votes
How is "Patriotism" seen from the Hindu Dharma perspective?
The Vedas, in particular, do not have a limited (narrow) vision of patriotism. The Vedas clearly say that we all are the children of Mother Earth. Hence, we should love the whole earth as our ...
- 109k
16
votes
Accepted
Can a married woman take out her Mangala Sutra and keep it anywhere?
No. A married woman is not allowed to remove mangal sutra for the sake of convenience.
As you have said in the question, we see many people who do not wear mangal sutra to offices and to some social ...
- 25.4k
16
votes
Accepted
What exactly is a leela (लीला)? Is there a scriptural definition of leela (लीला)?
First of all, a question arises:
How or why is the name or concept of Leela relevant in Hinduism?
It's because Brahman is defined as fully omniscient and omnipotent by many Vedic verses. Brahman is ...
- 47.1k
15
votes
Accepted
Do scriptures allow Hindus to marry foreigners?
No, the Dharma Shastras explicitly forbid Hindus from marrying foreigners, otherwise known as Mlecchas.
Here are some verses from the Atri Smriti that prohibit interracial marriages:
The purification ...
- 21.5k
14
votes
Accepted
Does the shloka 'ahiṃsā paramo dharma' or excerpt appear in Mahabharata?
Yes, this shloka is present in Mahabharata.
1) Adi Parva of Mahabharata:
Sauti Muni talking about Rishi Sahasrapat tells Rishi Ruru about the characteristics of a brahamana.
अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मः सर्वप्रा...
- 5,240
13
votes
How is "Patriotism" seen from the Hindu Dharma perspective?
In Hinduism, Earth and Bharatvarsh is considered as mother. And, in general, everyone love their mother.
Vishnu Purana says:
उत्तरम् यत् समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रे: चैव दक्षिणम्।
वर्षम् तद् भारतम् नाम भारती ...
- 23.5k
13
votes
Can a married woman take out her Mangala Sutra and keep it anywhere?
This is to supplement Sree Charan's correct answer with quotes from Shastras.
The Manu Smriti says that there is no Vedic sacrament for women.But what is Vedic sacrament for men the nuptial (wedding) ...
- 109k
13
votes
Accepted
What are the Hindu Code of Conduct (Ethics)?
In Santana Dharma, the "right way of living" is preached in many scriptures. Actually the Sanskrit word "Dharma" itself stands for similar meaning.
Ethics (Ethical code or Code Of ...
- 25.6k
13
votes
What to do when scriptures go against conscience?
The answer to this question is given in scripture itself and in the writings of the greats. Scripture can be regarded as scripture only if it is reasonable.
Bhishma said in Mahabharata
'Even the ...
- 34.8k
13
votes
Accepted
Does Vaishnavism ordain one to cut the tongue of a blasphemer?
The passage you quoted in your question is from Shreemad Bhagavata Maha Purana 4.4.17 and it says that "one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender". And your ...
- 31.6k
12
votes
What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?
Almost all cultures & civilizations have warned against harsh speeches. Even the sarcasm or the criticism also mustn't be cruel in nature. Better to withdraw them. During SabhA Parva, when ...
- 19.5k
12
votes
Why is Sanātana Dharma also sometimes called Ārṣa Dharma?
According to Sanskrit Dictionary,
आर्ष relating or belonging to or derived from ṛṣi-s (id est the poets of the Vedic and other old hymns) , archaistic [1][2] etc.
आर्ष the speech of a ṛṣi-, the holy ...
- 25.6k
12
votes
Accepted
Is it adharma to give Dana without considering what we are giving and to whom we are giving?
First of all dealing with Apatra Dana or charity given to the undeserving candidate.This is condemned in Scriptures.
From the book "Essence of Dharma Bindu "
Devala Maharshi clarifies: Charity ...
- 109k
12
votes
Accepted
Is there any advantage for a person dying as virgin?
There is no advantage in dying a virgin unless one has formally taken up the Sannyasa dharma i.e unless one has ritually become a sannyasi.
For a sannyasi strict celibacy is a must.
But for all ...
- 109k
12
votes
Does Hindu morality come from scripture or is it the other way round?
Morality comes from scripture. For starters, here is what Adi Shankaracharya says in this section of his Brahma Sutra Bhashya, which is actually about the subject of animal sacrifice:
[The reasoning ...
- 96k
12
votes
Vishnu seducing Jalandhar's wife Vrinda: How justified?
The source you have cited in question is not proper. You should read Rudra Samhita (Yuddha Khanda) (chapter 13 - Chapter 25) of Shiva Mahapurana and/or Uttarakhada (Chapter 3 - Chapter 18) of Padma ...
- 30.7k
12
votes
Why didn't Lord Ram try to prove Mother Sita's Purity but rather chose to exile her?
Why-didnt-lord-ram-try-to-prove-mother-sitas-purity-but-rather-chose-to-exile her? was Adharma ?
The exact answer why shree Rama sent Sita on exile in the forest and not again took her Agni ...
- 31.6k
12
votes
Accepted
Dharmic role of wife in marriage
In the Vedic religion, wife is indispensable. Wife is one half and the husband the other half, and when conjoined through marriage, they make one whole unit.
A man, so long he does not take a wife, ...
- 109k
12
votes
Accepted
Is the Manusmriti written to favor a particular Varṇa?
NOTE: Manusmriti critics have cherry-picked certain verses from the Manusmriti to show that Manu was unfair towards Shudras and partial towards Brahmins. The purpose of this answer is to provide the ...
- 21.5k
12
votes
What is the male equivalent of a Widow called, in the scriptures?
Vidhura is the word used for a widower in Baudhayana Dharma Sutras 2.10.17.4:
Now we will explain the rule for entering the order of ascetics (saṃnyāsa).
Some (teachers say), 'He who has finished ...
- 109k
11
votes
Should Krishna be considered good or bad?
God is both good and bad. Swami Vivekananda says (Complete Works V6 pp 116-117):
In the same man the mother sees a son, while the wife at the same time sees differently with different results. The ...
- 23.6k
11
votes
After Dhritarashtra, why was Yudhishthira and not Duryodhana considered the next in line to be the king?
In Bharata dynasty (in which Yudhishthira and Duryodhana were born), it was not necessary that only the eldest son of a king will become the next king. The one who was worthy of becoming a king used ...
- 23.5k
11
votes
Accepted
Did Swami Vivekananda eat fish and meat before he turned a sannyasi? Did he continue eating fish and meat after?
Before turning into a Sannyasin, there is a greater possibility that Swamiji might have taken the fish at least as it is a chief diet in Bengal.
After becoming a Sannyasin; when Swamiji was in ...
- 1,057
11
votes
Accepted
What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?
Vidura discusses the importance of controlling one's speech
To control speech, O king, is said to be most difficult. It is not
easy to hold a long conversation uttering words full of meaning and
...
- 34.8k
11
votes
Why did Rāma kill Śambūka? And is Rāma justified in killing him without a second chance?
This is what happened.
Rama, the performer of unblemished deeds, spoke these words. Hearing
them, with his face hanging downwards. he replied in these words, ‘I
have been born in the womb of a ...
- 34.8k
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